The Terrapins seem worthy of the honor. Since joining the Big Ten in 2014, they've won three straight conference titles and won 58 of 61 league games. A perennial fixture in the top 10, Maryland captured the NCAA championship under Frese in 2006, reached the Final Four in 2014 and 2015 and last year made it to the Sweet 16 before closing with a 32-3 record.

Now, the Terps are eager to find out how their act plays abroad.

"The biggest difference is the intensity and the physicality," senior guard Kristen Confroy said. "So we've really been going at it at practice."

The current roster has been enhanced by 6-5 center Malina Howard, who scored 770 points and grabbed 542 rebounds in four years at Maryland through 2016. She also won gold medals with the U.S. in the 2010 and 2011 FIBA World Championships.